A Victory With Cost [1]

The darkest hour, just before sunrise. A near-infinite wilderness stretched to the ends of the distant horizon.

The place was so crowded with people that there was no room to even step.

The countless waves of existence stretched towards only one thing, shouting out one person's name.

But Carl couldn't understand it.

There was only one master of all things, looking down on everything in the world. In his deeply sunken eyes, all-embracing love quietly overflowed.

The sun rose slowly.

From across that distant wilderness, eyes of blazing fire looked at him as if rising to greet him. He stared straight ahead at the spreading light, holding a rough, worn-out cane in his hand.

He slowly turned his head and met Carl's eyes.

Likewise, he smiled softly as he said a name Carl could not understand.

Carl couldn't even make out the outline of his face, but he could clearly feel that he was looking at him and smiling.